PopHorror Let's Get Scared
There are openings to films, and then there are openings like the one in Damian McCarthy ‘s (Caveat) Oddity. There is a knock at the door, and an unkept man with a milky eye warns you that you are in danger. But the danger is already inside the house. What kind of choice do you make? Right from the start you will feel as utterly helpless as the characters on screen. And the fun is just starting!
Synopsis
After the brutal murder of her twin sister, Darcy goes after those responsible by using haunted items as her tools for revenge.
The first scene involves a murder – a woman named Dani was killed in the remote home she was fixing up. The killer was a patient at the mental asylum her husband runs. Dani’s blind twin sister Darcy (Carolyn Bracken – The Quiet Girl) runs a very strange/creepy thrift store where most of the items seem to be cursed (fans of Caveat will see an old friend if you keep your eyes peeled!).
A year after her sister’s death Darcy shows up at the house where her sister died, wanting to learn what really happened. She also arrives with the creepiest man-sized wooden doll I’ve ever seen. Jesus, that thing will live rent-free in my nightmares forever. But who was really responsible if the patient wasn’t?
Right from the very start the viewer is left with a terrible feeling of unease. We are fed pieces of the murder a little at a time, finding the terrible truth out as Darcy does while the unsettling feeling grows and grows. I find this type of film more effective than any blood and guts horror fest.
This felt very much like a chamber piece, with only a few characters and the majority of the action taking place in one location. The acting is exceptional, with Carolyn Bracken deftly managing the roles of both twin sisters. She goes toe to toe with her brother in law’s new girlfriend, Yana, (the delightful Caroline Menton) in some of Oddity’s most amusing and chilling scenes.
Director Damian McCarthy’s strongest ability is this film and his last is the ability to create dread. He succeeds here by stripping down everything – the plot, the surroundings, and even the characters. This directorial decision allows the viewer’s mind to fill in all the blanks – and it’s so incredibly effective. Oddity also features a few of the most effective jump scares I have seen in a long time.
Final Thoughts
This is a film for those that truly appreciate an great slow burn. There’s a little bit of blood and guts, but not a ton. For me, this is a major must see!
Oddity releases in the United States on July 19th. It will show at Fantasia International Film Fest on August 4. A Shudder release date is TBD.
